psa_christmas - SRPMIC

Holiday Safety Tips

Decoration Safety

It’s that festive time of year again – time to string the lights, hang decorations, put up Christmas trees, and bring out the candles to celebrate the holidays. To keep the holiday season a merry one, the Salt River Fire Department has decorating safety tips.

No matter how you plan to celebrate the holidays, special care should be taken when decorating. Following these safety tips can help prevent holiday traditions from turning into tragedies.

Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 12,800 people for falls, cuts, shocks, and burns due to incidents involving faulty holiday lights, dried-out Christmas trees and other holiday decorations.

Christmas Tree Safety

Christmas trees are involved in about 300 fires annually, resulting in an average of 10 deaths, 40 injuries and about $7 million in property damage and loss. In addition, there are more than 15,000 candle-related fires each year, which result in 140 deaths and $307 million in property loss.

Consider an artificial tree (they are much safer and cleaner).
When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant”. This does not mean the tree won’t catch fire, it does indicate the tree is more resistant to burning.
When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers. The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
A real tree should not lose green needles when you tap it on the ground. Cut 1 inch off the trunk to help absorb water. Leave the tree outside until ready to decorate. The stand should hold at least 1 gal. of water. A 6′ tree will use 1 gallon of water every two days. Mix a commercial preservative with the water. Check the water level every day. Secure the tree with wire to keep it from tipping. Keep tree away from floor heaters, fireplaces, or other heat sources. Use only UL-listed lights, and no more than 3 strands linked together. Use miniature lights–which have cool-burning bulbs. Turn off the Christmas lights when you sleep, or if you leave your home for very long. Never use candles, even on artificial trees. Clean the tree stand to improve the tree’s water intake, use one capful of bleach to a cup of water.
When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic, and do not block doorways.
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or non-leaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
In homes with small children, take special care to avoid sharp or breakable decorations, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children who could swallow or inhale small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
To avoid eye and skin irritation, wear gloves when decorating with spun glass “angel hair.”
To avoid lung irritation, follow container directions carefully while decorating with artificial snow spray.
Dispose of the tree properly.
NEVER BURN A REAL TREE IN THE FIREPLACE.

Home Safety

Install a smoke detector or new batteries in the one(s) you have and TEST it. Use only outdoor lights outside your home. Examine light strings each year, discard worn ones. Fasten the bulbs securely and point the sockets down to avoid moisture build up. Connect no more than three strands together. Never use indoor extension cords outside. Avoid overloading wall outlets and extension cords.
Keep outdoor electrical connectors above ground and out of puddles and snow.
Unplug light string before replacing a bulb. Review the original package to verify proper wattage and voltage. When connecting light strands, wrap a plastic bag around connections and tie ends with teflon tape. Never use electric lights on a metallic tree, use colored spot lights. Make sure trees hung with X-mas lights are not touching power lines. When using candles, place them a safe distance from combustibles. Place candles in sturdy containers. Remember, hot wax burns kids. Extinguish candles prior to going to bed. Dispose of fireplace ashes into a metal container until cold. After parties, check around and under sofa and chair cushions for smoldering cigarettes. (Provide lots of ash trays.) Install at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home.
Have an operable fire extinguisher readily available.

See: Using the Correct Extinguisher.

“Safety” Gift Ideas

Put together a gift basket containing one or more of the following items:

Three smoke detectors and batteries. A quality fire extinguisher. A flashlight and batteries or light sticks. A first-aid kit. A carbon Monoxide detector. A mobile phone. A second floor escape ladder.
“Emergency kit” – energy bars, water, battery radio, flashlight/light sticks and a first-aid kit packed in a small travel bag.